Osmosis Experiment

Materials needed:
1 thistle funnel
1 beaker of water
Water with salt

Steps:

Step 1 - Pour water with salt (salt solution) into the thistle funnel.
Step 2 – Place the funnel into the beaker of water
Step 3 – Observe the changes for 30 minutes

Explanation:
In the beginning, the salt solution has a higher percentage of solute, containing about 10% of solute
hence lesser water compared to the water solution in the beaker, which has a lower percentage of
solute, around 5%.

During the 30 minutes, there is net movement of water inside the thistle funnel. The water moves
from a region of higher water concentration (water in beaker) to a region of lower water
concentration (salt solution in funnel). The water molecules gradually move until there is equal
concentration of water in both sides.

At the end of the 30 minutes, we can see that osmosis has taken place. The solution in the funnel
has increased, and solution in the beaker has decreased, as compared to the beginning of the
experiment. This shows that water molecules from the beaker has been transferred to the funnel
through a semi-permeable membrane which is the funnel, thereby having a reduction of water in
the beaker. The water has gone to the funnel hence showing the rise of solution level in the funnel.
The solution concentration should be the same at the end of the experiment.